Sean Kilpatrick scored 28 points, including six free throws down the stretch that helped No. 13 Cincinnati rally for a 69-66 victory over No. 12 Louisville on Thursday night.

Unfazed despite blowing a 17-point lead in the second half, the first-place Bearcats (20-2, 9-0 American Athletic Conference) regrouped to hold the Cardinals to just two points over the final five minutes to win the conference showdown with a big hand from Kilpatrick.

Down 64-61, Kilpatrick made two from the line before Justin Jackson's tip-in gave Cincinnati the lead for good with 1:41 left. After Russ Smith's missed layup and Montrezl Harrell's turnover, Kilpatrick closed with four more free throws in the final nine seconds to cap the Bearcats' 13th straight win that put them 2½ games ahead of Louisville (17-4, 6-2).

All of Kilpatrick's free throws were big in providing a cushion that offset Terry Rozier's two from the line that brought Louisville within a point with seven seconds left and left the Cardinals' Luke Hancock with a 3-point attempt in the final seconds that missed.

Kilpatrick finished 11-for-11 from the line.

Jackson, questionable for the game with an ankle injury, started and finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 37 minutes. Shaquille Thomas added 11 points and Titus Rubles eight with rebounds for the Bearcats, who shot 63 percent in the second half and 49 percent overall (23-for-47).

Harrell had 18 points for the Cardinals, who shot 44 percent (26-for-59) and had a four-game winning streak snapped. Hancock and Russ Smith each added 16 while Rozier had 10.

Florida 62, Mississippi State 51: Casey Prather scored 16 points, Patric Young added 12 in No. 3 Florida's 12th straight win. The Gators (18-2, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) had a slow start on offense, but made up for it with suffocating defense. It was the 12th time this season Florida held an opponent to 60 points or fewer. Florida's Michael Frazier II had just nine points, but his three 3-pointers helped the Gators keep a comfortable lead throughout most of the second half. Mississippi State (13-7, 3-4) lost for the first time at home during conference play. The Bulldogs have lost four straight to the Gators.